Following in Tim’s footsteps, I decided to Make My Opinion Known to the local populace in Southern Utah. I have no idea if the letter will be published, and I can almost guarantee you there will be no teevee interview because of it. People often talk about the bias of the “liberal media.” I have yet to see that liberal bias where I live. Links in the post are references for the reader of this blog, they were not included in the original letter.
To the Editor:
This letter is to correct an error in your editorial about Lance Armstrong published July 27, 2004. You stated: “He had to race through French spectators spitting on him as he blew past the competition in the mountains, perhaps a sign of the strained relations between the United States and France in light of the war in Iraq.” The spitting was not from French spectators, but from German cycling fans. This was widely reported on websites dedicated to cycling, as well as newspaper sports pages. Armstrong is quoted as saying: “This event has made my career a very special one. If somebody asks me what my favorite country is besides Texas’¦ I mean, America,’ Armstrong joked, ‘I say France. And I don’t say that to the press, I say it to people ‘“ and I mean it.”
Regardless, I doubt the spitting by the German fans had anything to do with politics. More likely it had everything to do with Armstrong besting their favorite German cyclists.
Please do not paint the French people with the same broad brush you apply to their government. Everything I read and heard during the tour suggested that the people in France were wonderful hosts. The only negative thing said about the French by Armstrong was against reporters from their newspaper “Le Monde”, which published an unsubstantiated claim against him regarding doping.
Statements such as yours propagate misunderstanding. I’d wager the ordinary French citizen is not much different from the ordinary American citizen; powerless against unpopular government decisions until the next election rolls around.
Regards,
Beth Lock
CKS/bl Tridiot Rating was calculated today from my favorite workspace, and it’s a whopper! The Tridiot Rating, that is, at 123.45%
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